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Death, sex, and fertility: female infanticide in rural Spain, 1750–1950

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Relying on longitudinal micro data from rural Spain between 1750 and 1950, this article evidences that families mortally neglected a significant fraction of their female babies. Firstly, baptism records exhibited exceptionally high sex ratios at birth until the late nineteenth century. Secondly, having no previous male siblings increased the probability of male baptisms. Likewise, this same feature, together with the number of siblings alive, also increased female mortality during the first day of life. These findings are concentrated at higher parities and among landless and semi-landless families. Lastly, under-registration cannot explain these patterns affecting female mortality shortly after birth.

Source: European Review of Economic History

DOI: 10.1093/ereh/heab023

Authors: Francisco J Beltrán Tapia, Francisco J Marco-Gracia

Institutions: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Universidad de Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón

Language: English

Topic: Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,989